Santa Monica Planning Division Santa Monica Landmarks Tour, 2003.
32. Looff Hippodrome, 1916
Foot of Colorado Avenue
Architects: various builders
Designation: 17 August 1976
"The Hippodrome is a California-Byzantine-Moorish-style fantasy that has housed a succession of vintage merry-go-rounds, carousels and Wurlitzer organs over the years. The current carousel was built by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company in 1922. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, the carousel was moved from the Venice pier to the Santa Monica Pier in 1947. It has 44 hand-carved and hand-painted wooden horses, which were restored in 1990.
"The Hippodrome building was restored during the period from 1981 through 1984, and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987."
33. Santa Monica Pier
Foot of Colorado Avenue
Architect: Charles Looff {?}
Designation: 17 August 1976
"The Pier is California's oldest pleasure pier and has the only amusement park on a pier on the west coast. It was originally two separately owned, adjacent piers: the Municipal Pier built in 1909, and the Pleasure Pier, built in 1916 by Charles Looff. Looff said he chose this location because Santa Monica beach "is well-known as one of the finest on the Pacific Coast, it attracts the highest class of people, and transportation facilities are unequaled." Looff was a pioneer amusement entrepreneur who had built Coney Island's first carousel in Brooklyn, New York. In 1909, Looff moved his operation to Long Beach, after realizing the potential for amusement parks along the Southern Californian coastline.
"While the Municipal Pier was for strolling and fishing, Looff constructed amusement and food establishments on the Pleasure Pier, including the exotic Hippodrome building to house the Pier's carousel. Looff sold the Pleasure Pier in 1924 to a corporation which lengthened it that year and built the famed La Monica Ballroom, which soon became home of some of the earliest national radio and television broadcasts. Although the ballroom was demolished in 1963, in its heyday the massive structure could accomodate as many as 10,000 people.
"In 1953, the City took over the Pleasure Pier and leased it to a private operator. Since the 1970s, the Piers have been known collectively as the Santa Monica Pier. The entire Pier was named a County Historical Landmark in 1975. After the 1983 storms that destroyed the west end of the Santa Monica Pier, the structure of the Pier was strengthened."
34. Santa Monica City Hall, 1938
1685 Main Street
Architects: Donald Parkinson & Joseph M. Estep
Designation: 16 October 1979
"The Art Deco style City Hall was partially financed by the federal Public Works Administration. The building is a concrete structure in the Classical Moderne style, popular in the 1930s and 1940s. It carries a nautical tone to suit this oceanside community.
"The entrance is decorated with colorful tile work by the local Gladding, McBean Tile Company. The lobby murals were designed by Stanton Macdonald-Wright*, and installed under the auspices of the Federal Arts Project. The building provided jobs and pride to the community during the Great Depression; it is a standing tribute to cooperation among residents, city officials and the federal government."
35. Barnum Hall, 1938
601 Pico Boulevard
Architects: Marsh, Smith & Powell
Designation: 9 December 2002
"This Streamline Moderne auditorium on the Santa Monica High School campus has long been an architectural and cultural focal point. It was one of the few Works Progress Administration (WPA) relief projects completed in Santa Monica during the 1930s. Internationally recognized local artist Stanton Macdonald-Wright* created the large mosaic in the lobby and the fire curtain mural on the stage as part of the WPA and Federal Arts Project.
"The primary facade contains a large glazed grid and a geometric motif in the concrete bas-relief. The auditorium was recently extensively renovated through the efforts of the "Save Barnum Hall!" parents' organization."
36. Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, 1958
1855 Main Street
Architect: Welton Becket & Associates
Designation: 9 April 2002
"This building was the third of three major 20th century Civic Center structures, beginning with City Hall and the County Courthouse. It remains an excellent example of the mid-20th century International Style. It is the only surviving institutional design of world-famous master architect and Santa Monica resident Welton Becket in the City.
"The Auditorium has state-of-the-art engineering designs: a hydraulic floor, retractable domes and flexible stadium seating. Its acoustics system was designed by UCLA Chancellor Vern O. Knutsen, and is still highly functional, and requires minimal maintenance."
37. Bay Street Craftsman Cluster, circa 1900
137, 141, 145 & 147 Bay Street
Designation: 5 December 2000
"This historic district contains four structures, all two story, front gabled, multi-family residences. Architectural unity and physical connection are reinforced by the palm tree-lined Bay Street.
"These buildings are among the earliest intact examples of Craftsman style apartment buildings in the Ocean Park District. They were strategically located at Neilson Way, originally the Los Angeles Pacific Railway right of way, which connected Santa Monica to the rest of the region, and were also close to the beach and the Main Street commercial district."
38 Horatio West Court, 1919
140 Hollister Ave.
Architect: Irving Gill
Designated: 2 January 1979
"This is one of the finest remaining examples of architect Irving Gill's work in the Los Angeles area. Gill's work was heavily influenced by the region's Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission Revival architecture. Abstracting elements of these styles, his designs were modern interpretations of these more traditional forms. This property also shows Gill's interest in designing affordable alternatives to the single-family home. On the first floor of the two-story homes French doors lead from living areas onto an enclosed terrace. In the 1970's, the buildings were restored.
"Horatio West Court is on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977."
39. Hollister Court, 1904 - early 1920s
2402 Fourth Street & 2401 Third Street
Architect: Unknown
Designation: 13 December 1990
"This bungalow court consists of 13 individual Craftsman style units, congregated along the perimeter of the property, forming a lushly landscaped central courtyard that is shared by the residents of the complex.
"Bungalow courts provide many of the amenities of a single family home at an affordable price, and were the precursors to garden apartments which were considered a more permanent housing type. This building type was popular in the early 20th century as vacation homes and offered opportunities for community life and gatherings.
"The property was subdivided into condominiums in 1993."
40 John and Anna George House, circa 1911
2424 Fourth Street
Architect: Unknown
Designated 17 March 1981
"Situated on the crest of a hill, this California Craftsman bungalow features include a large double columned front porch, several large picture windows, a widow's walk which faces the ocean, and a glassed in morning room. The large front door is pierced by three vertical channels of beveled glass. During restoration of the house in the early 1980's the structure was repainted its original gray color and a small second floor addition was constructed.
"The Georges were a prominent local family. John George was a City Council member and his wife was an active clubwoman." p.18
41. Merle Norman* House, 1935
2523 Third Street
Architect: Ellis G. Martin
Designation: 10 June 1996
"This Mediterranean Revival style house features multiple red tile gabled roof with bracketed eaves and a central chimney. The home was the principal residence of the nationally famed cosmetics entrepreneur, Merle Norman*, for over twenty years.
"Mrs. Norman's business began in a garage in Ocean Park, where she set up a laboratory and came up with the "3 Steps" treatment. Aside from her success in cosmetics, Mrs. Norman is also recognized for her innovative marketing techniques, consisting primarily of free demonstrations and word-of-mouth product promotion during the Great Depression."
42. Charles Warren Brown House, 1908
2504 Third Street
Architect: Charles Warren Brown
Designation: 11 August 1997
"An early Craftsman era structure, this home typifies development in Ocean Park at the turn of the 20th century. It features typical Craftsman elements such as strongly delineated porch columns, exposed purlins and rafters, combinations of cladding and gable motifs. The proportion of window to wall area is high, and windows were placed in irregular combinations or banded.
"Owner-builder Brown appears to have been active in civic affairs and briefly served as a Councilman, which furthered his success as a speculative buyer and builder."
43. Merle Norman Building,
2525 Main Street
Architect: H.G. Thursby
Designation: 11 November 2002
"This Streamline Moderne/Art Deco style building was the former headquarters of Merle Norman Cosmetics. Its ornate and stylish design reflected Norman's prosperity and the building towered above most of Main Street's low-rise commercial structures. {The Library?}
"The Streamline styling of this building is a distinctive interpretation of an architectural movement, which suggests dynamism, progress, and optimism. The unique combination of complex curves, pylons, and a prominent circular cupola distinguish this building. It further symbolizes the success of a Santa Monica business during the peak years of the Great Depression."
44. Ocean Park Library, circa 1917 -1918
2601 Main Street
Architects: Kegley & Gerity
Designated 3 May 1977
"The Ocean Park branch library is the last Carnegie Library remaining in Santa Monica, and one of the few small Carnegie library still operating in California. The architecture is a simplified variation of Classical Revival design, characterized by symmetry, a central entrance and a continuous roofline. The original facade was retained during a major remodel and expansion in 1985.
"The library site was donated by the Tegner* family where the original Tegner home once stood. In 1902, Charles A. Tegner opened a small real estate and insurance office in downtown Santa Monica, which is still operating after 100 years." p. 19
45. First Roy Jones House, 1894
2612 Main Street
Architect: Sumner P. Hunt
Designation: 2 January 1979
"This building, constructed for Santa Monica civic leader, Roy Jones, is the earliest known American Colonial Revival style work of architect Sumner P. Hunt, whose work was well known in Southern California for designing structures in both the Spanish Colonial Revival and American Colonial Revival styles.
"Originally located at 1007 Ocean Avenue, the house was donated to the Heritage Square Museum and moved to its present location on City - owned property in 1977. Today, it houses the California Heritage Museum, which specializes in decorative arts. The first floor is furnished in 1890s to 1930s styles."
46. Third Street Neighborhood Historic District
Bounded by Ocean Park Boulevard, Second, Hill and Third Streets.
Designation: 1 July 1990
"The Third Street Neighborhood Historic District is the City's first Historic District. It consists of 38 contributing buildings constructed between 1875 and 1930. This small Ocean Park neighborhood illustrates many of the historical and architectural patterns that characterized the larger community. Historically, the neighborhood has ties to some of Santa Monica's most prominent early residents. Architecturally, the buildings chronicle the evolution of design from the Victorian era through the revival styles of the 1920s and 1930s, with an emphasis on hipped roof, turn-of-the-century cottages and Craftsman bungalows."
47. Moses Hostetter* House, 1893
2601 Second Street
Architect: Unknown
Designation: 12 April 1990
"This Victorian era single family home was constructed by Moses Hostetter*, an Iowa farmer who migrated to Santa Monica in 1893. Hostetter served as a member of the Santa Monica Board of Trustees between 1896 and 1900, acting as chairman of several committees. The house features two three-sided, two story bay windows. The exterior is clad in the original redwood bevel siding with decorative fishscale shingles. The only alteration to the structure is the removal of the upper gable, which occurred sometime in the 1920's.
"The house was carefully restored during the 1980's."
48. First Methodist - Episcopal Church, 1875 - 1876
2621 2nd Street
Architect: Unknown
Designation: 4 January 1977
"A simplified variation of a Gothic Revival style, the building was the first church erected in Santa Monica. The site was donated by the Santa Monica Land Company of City founder John P. Jones. Located originally at Sixth and Arizona, the church was moved to Hill and Lake Streets in 1899 and occupied by the Ocean Park Methodist - Episcopal Church. Lake Street became Washington Boulevard, and is now Second Street.
"In 1923, the old church was sold to the Stephen Jackson Women's Relief Corps, No. 124 and was renamed "Patriotic Hall." In 1971, it became a private residence." p.20
49. Parkhurst Building, 1927
185 Pier Ave
Architects: Norman F. Marsh & Company
Designated 6 December 1977
"This Spanish Colonial Revival building was constructed by Clinton Gordon Parkhurst, the next to the last mayor of Venice before this city became incorporated into the City of Los Angeles. It was designed by the architectural firm of Marsh, Smith and Powell. Partner Norman F. Marsh was responsible for the design of the many prominent structures in Venice, as well as the plan for the arcaded streets and canals. The multi-sided tower with its intricate design formed by protruding bricks, as well as it other ornamentation, make this one of the more visible landmarks on Main Street. This building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978."
50. Craftsman style Residence, 1913
502 Raymond Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Designation: 14 April 2003
"The main structure on this property was built in 1913, and the rear unit was added in 1940. The house typifies the residential development of the Ocean Park neighborhood during the first quarter of the 20th century. The residence's Craftsman features include the low-pitched multi-gable roof, horizontal emphasis, shingle siding, exposed rafter tails and eave brackets, and wood frame windows.
"The brick pillars on the front porch were restored in 2001, when the property was extensively renovated. The stained glass windows were not the original type used on this house, but are typically associated with the Craftsman style."
52. Shotgun House, circa 1899
Moved from 2712 Second Street to the Santa Monica Airport
Architect: Unknown
Designation: 11 January 1999
"Known as a "shotgun house", this structure is one room wide, one story tall, and several rooms deep. The shotgun house is a vernacular American building type that resulted from a synthesis of sources from the Caribbean region, Europe, and Africa. Its form was adaptable to a variety of circumstances under which temporary or inexpensive housing was required.
"This house may have been constructed initially as a beach cottage, or may have housed workers associated with the nearby rail or oil industries. It is now in storage awaiting a relocation site." p. 21